![File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎455r] (923/995)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/IOR_L_PS_10_761_0931.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎455r] (923/995)")
File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [455r] (923/995)
The record is made up of 1 volume (491 folios). It was created in 28 Jun 1920-11 Feb 1921. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
wmmm
cJjZo- U*Lj- ^ U^uj f^t-^y, f-o< (f J ,y
— -y ££je~-^
^jjgitxrxJ
iLfl ,E Y 0 y T EL ::B.^ T? A i?
From Baghdad.
Dated July 10th, 1920.
(Roceired 12th, 11 a.m.)
7
,;,\jU920 '
(|2i , 831 f« Your telegram July 8th. Additional Indian
Divisions for Mesopotamia*
/• «ia 4 J l ) 1 sutait brief appreciation, of the (? situation)
/in whi^ please read uji light of my previous official telegrams
subject which I nave no reason substantially to
Jou are aware that General Baghdad, has asked
that a Brigade may be held if) readiness as a first instalment
against possible eventualities*
™ ^ As in (? 1918) so now Military position in
Mesopotamia is % conditioned by external rather than by internal
situation* Principal external factors are Bolsheviks, Turks
and Syrians in order named*
fof^lsheviks cannot in ray opinion be adequately dealt
/forced with (? by) ^|ese based on Mesopotamia* Proper Military means
of dealing with them appears to me to be (IT I may venture te
an opinion) from Batoum by a force in Caucasus and on Caspian.
His Majesty’s Government found themselves compelled to
abandon this line last year and results have reacted
unfavourably on us in Persia*
(4) I am not well informed as to Turkish situation but
so far as I can iudge action the Allies are taking on European
side is likely if sustained to preclude any serious Turkish
offensive against Mesopotamia*
( y) Syrian situation is I venture/ to think susceptible of
improvement by diplomatic rather than by Military means*
I incline to view that if Syrian Affairs were now detached
completely from Egypt and Palestine and were dealt with by
Consular Officer at Damascus with subordinate at Aleppo
/ JlojJJ working directly under Whitehall and devoting his whole time
to Syrian problems weAshaii have been less trouble than we
are now having and I respectfully submit this proposal for
consideration* French have Consul at Bagdad and have Vice
Consulate at Basrah (at present vacant) and there seems
no reason why we should be less well represented in Syria.
(6) Internal situation in Mesopotamia is threatening Wt
will very greatly improve so soon as the external situation
has been stabilised* Present troubles and those likely to occur
in near future arise first from that-the fact that those who
fish in troubled waters are taking advantage of instability
of the external situation to cause disturbances here whilst
minds of population at large are confused by declaration of His
Majesty’s Government which so widely diverge, if I maybe
allowed to say so, from realities of life in Mesopotamia that
they find no degree of popular acceptance outside the towns
and have hitherto done little but arouse (? suspicion) even ther«<
(7) Immediate emergencies confronting us on Euphrates
could hdve been promptly nipped in the bud Sad existing aimed
forces in Mesopotamia been in a more efficient state thad they
now
About this item
- Content
The volume consists of correspondence, memoranda, drafts, and departmental notes relating to rebellion against British mandatory rule in Mesopotamia [approximately corresponding to present-day Iraq], later known as the Iraqi Revolt of 1920.
The volume covers the period from the start of unrest in May 1920 to British imposition of control in October of the same year. The majority of the volume comprises reports from political officers across Mesopotamia on the situation in their respective divisions and districts.
Other matters discussed within the volume include:
- The suspected causes of the uprising, including fears of ‘Bolshevik’ and pro-Turkish influence
- Settlement of the border between Syria and Mesopotamia
- Military strategy and operations, including the need for reinforcements
- The severing of British lines of communication, particularly rail
- The efficacy and principles of the use of armoured cars and air raids as means of control following numerous cases of misidentification and disproportionate force that resulted in the deaths and injuries of innocent people
- Political and civil policy in the region
- Identification and arrest of some of the leaders of the rebellion
- The prominence of events in Mesopotamia in the British press
- The question of disarming the tribes following the suppression of the rebellion.
Principal correspondents include officials at: the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ; the Office of the Civil Commissioner in Mesopotamia (from November 1920, the High Commissioner); the War Office; General Headquarters of the military in Mesopotamia; and the Government of India, Foreign and Political and Army departments.
The volume contains cuttings from several publications, including: The Times , The Statesman , The Observer , The Daily Herald , The Daily Mail , The Baghdad Times , and The Near East .
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence. A second divider is included, for File 4722/1918 Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’. This was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (491 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged in approximate chronological order, from the rear to the front.
The subject 4722 (Mesopotamia) consists of ten volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/755-764. The volumes are divided into twelve parts, with parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 comprising one volume each. Part 10 is missing. Part 7, entitled ‘Mesopotamia: Sir A. Wilson’s invitation to Syrian Baghdadis’, was transferred to File 5268/20 Parts 1 and 2 (see IOR/L/PS/10/913).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 489; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Multiple intermittent additional foliation sequences are also present. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. The sequence contains one foliation anomaly, f 89a.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [455r] (923/995), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/761, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137804989.0x00007c> [accessed 6 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804989.0x00007c
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804989.0x00007c">File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation' [‎455r] (923/995)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137804989.0x00007c"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/IOR_L_PS_10_761_0931.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00028f/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/761
- Title
- File 4722/1918 Pt 8 'Mesopotamia: Situation'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:89v, 89ar:89av, 90r:113r, 114v, 118v:120r, 121v, 127v:169v, 173r:192v, 194r:211v, 213r:223v, 225r:227r, 229r:261v, 262v:263v, 266r:279v, 280ar, 280r:293v, 294v, 295v:317v, 318ar, 318r:333v, 334v:341v, 342v:359v, 360v:400v, 404r:424v, 425ar, 425r:489v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence